Topper Headon (The Clash)

Topper Headon (The Clash)

Joe Strummer once said that a band is only as good as its drummer — something he could say with confidence, since his drummer was one of the most solid and inventive ever. The Clash were a prolific, constantly evolving band, and Topper — coming from a jazz background — held the foundation, playing different styles with strength and sensitivity. The way Headon plays reggae is moving — authentic, heavy, heavy, heavy, on the kick drum, and full of expression. Over their discography, the Clash got into disco, funk, and gospel, but in a way that was absolutely still the Clash, and Topper Headon was the reason. He's a punk drummer because he's not a punk drummer. Most Booming Moment: Though more subtle and subdued than, say "White Riot," 1979's "Lost in the Supermarket" turns a disco rhythm into something more introspective — totally in the pocket until one flurrious fill at the 3:27 mark. FRED ARMISEN

In compiling a list of our favorite alternative drummers, we know that what makes someone “alternative” is admittedly subjective — though we remain wowed by their skills, the arena-rocking misty-mountain marauding of John Bonham or the artfully destructive chaos of Keith Moon or the ridiculoid festival freakouts of Dave Matthews Band’s Carter Beauford are too anchored to commercial bedrock. Once-alternative dudes like Lars Ulrich and Larry Mullen, Jr. were even more contentious points of debate. Tie-breaking was left to the completely arbitrary whims of various SPIN editors. We included stomping ’60s and ’70s funkateers because their ricocheting rhythms cut so hard against the pop grain — both originally and via hip-hop samples — but we mostly left out jazz greats because, well, we can’t be here all day.

To create this roll call, we enlisted the help of music writers who have been known to play some drums (Michael Azerrad, Hank Shteamer, Matt LeMay), so we can assure that the word “flam” will be used correctly. We also included some drummers who have a way with words — including Portlandia’s Fred Armisen, Superchunk’s Jon Wurster, and Matthew Shipp skinsman Guillermo E. Brown, a.k.a., Pegasus Warning. We probably forgot someone great and you’re probably going to tell us about it in the comments. Just make us the new punch line to your best drummer joke. CHRISTOPHER R. WEINGARTEN

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